Triggering device



June 23, 1959 E. R. DODGE ET AL ,4

' TRIGGERING DEVICE Filed Dec. "5, 1955 Mai/vie 00m, Roam/z f/(li/A/Z' hkm ATTMQNEV ited States Pate TRIGGERING DEVICE Application December 5, 1955*,S'eriaI-NO. 551,001

1. Claim; (Cl. 102-703)- This invention relates to a triggering device and deals more particularly with an electrically-operated mechanism that is automatically activated. when. short -circuitedl upon immersion in water or other electrically conducting fluid;

Essentially, the present device embodies a member that is moved (preferably with considerable rapidity and force) upon immersion of the device, as above indicated, the member being so operatively associated with another or secondary device that the latter is operated. Thus, typical uses of the present triggering device are for automatic inflation of life preservers and jackets, release of marking dyes, ignition of flares, etc., when the same fall or are dropped into water. Also, the present device may set off an audible alarm and may be used for apprising that a liquid has attained a predetermined level.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid-operated triggering device for instituting operation of another or secondary device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred to that embodies switch means having no movable parts and which is closed by being short-circuited and which, when so closed, operates the device.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction. and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawing merely shows and the following description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a triggering device according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view as taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

The device that is illustrated comprises, generally, a metallic body 5 provided with clamp means 6 for afiixing said body to a device or means that is operated by the present device, a metallic sleeve or shell 7 around said body, an electrical insulating filler 8 between said body and sleeve, a source 9 of electric current carried by and in direct electric engagement with said sleeve 7, a squib or comparable detonator means 10 carried by the body 5 at one end of said body, and a plunger member 11 movable in and relative to the body upon explosion or detonation of the means 10. Since the member 11 may be so placed with respect to a device in the clamp means 6 as to do work on said device, the device above generally described can be made to operate such a clamp-engaged device.

The term metallic, aslier'e used in connection with body 5 and sleeve 7, is intended to mean that all or appropriate parts of said' body and sleeve are electrically conducting, and" that, when immersed in an electricallyconduct'ing liquid, said body and sleeve will be elecuric'ally connected.

The body 5 is preferably of elongated form and is interiorly hollow to provide a cylinder 12 The lower end ofv saidcylinder is closed by an end wall 13 in which is provided a passage hole 14'. The upper end of the cylinder is closed. by aplug 15 which may be connected to the body, as by threads 16.

The clamp means 6 may vary according to the device or article to which the present device is to be connected. As shown, said means 6 comprises a pair. of clamp rings 17 that extend laterally from the body 5 so the same may hold a device or article in position to be acted on by themember 11.

The-sleeve 7 .is preferably shorter than body 5 and, in this instance, is positioned to surround the upper end of said body.

The inner bore of sleeve 7 is suitably larger than the outer dimension of the body to accommodate the insulating filler 8, the intent being to completely separate the body and sleeve electrically.

The current source 9 is shown as a dry battery 18 having terminals 19 and 20-one negative and the other positive. Terminals 19 and 20 are shown at opposite ends of the battery but may be at the same end, or the battery may be provided with one terminal and the outer shell comprising the other. The source 9 is, nevertheless, conventional, regardless of the disposition of its terminals and the present device may be varied in its details, accordingly.

The battery 18 is held in place, with respect to sleeve 7, by a clamp 21. To insure good electrical connection of said battery with said sleeve, one of the terminals of the former, in this case 19, is connected by a buss strip 22 to the latter.

The squib or detonator means 10' is carried by the plug 15 and may comprise any suitable explosive device that may be electrically detonated so as to expend its force in the direction of the cylinder 12. Said means comprises squib 23, a conductor 24 interconnecting the battery terminal 20 and one side or pole of the squib, and a conductor 25 connecting the other pole of the squib and the body 5, as at 26.

In the above manner, one side of the battery is connected to the sleeve 7 and the opposite side is connected through the squib 23 to the body 5. Since said sleeve and body are, electrically insulated by insulation 8, the circuit is incomplete until a liquid medium 27 short-circuits the sleeve and body, at which time the squib is detonated.

The plunger member 11 comprises a piston 28 in cylinder 12, a stem 29 extending from said piston through passage hole 14, and a head 30 on the projecting end of the stem. Normally, the piston is retracted in a direction toward squib 23, as in Fig. 2. When the squib is detonated, the force generated propels the member 11 to cause projection of head 30 *and operation by the latter of any device carried by clamp means 6.

After the squib has been fired, the expended parts, such as the squib and battery, may be replaced and the device ready for use again.

The present device, with little or no change, can employ the plunger member 11 to expel dye or other marker material from the cylinder 12, or even propel a line, float or other such means from the cylinder. Thus, a secondary device need not be used, but the present means may, in itself, be complete for the purpose intended. It will be realized that a float or other such ejected device may embody signal means, as a radio transmitter, etc. The means 11 may be formed as a breakaway portion of the body 5, the force of the detonation removing the breakaway portion tofree material normally. retained in the body. f v

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out our invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spiritand scope of our invention. It is, therefore, not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of. construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A triggering device for producing abrupt movement of two relatively movable members'comprising two electrical conducting members, electrical insulation between i the members, the outer conducting member being cylindrical and shorter, thanand being carried on the inner cylindrical conducting member, said inner conducting member having a piston mounted therein whose stem extends outside of said conducting member, saidpiston stem having an enlargement on its outer end, bracket means mounted on the outside of the inner conducting member, the outer electrical conducting member sup porting a dry cell battery, a screw plug threadedly engaged with the inner electrical conducting member and having mounted thereinv a' squib or detonator means, one pole of the battery being grounded on the outer electrical conducting member, the other pole of the battery being inelectrical contact with the screw plug carrying the detonator, and an electrical connection between the screw plug and the inner conducting member whereby when water bridges the insulating material between the outer and inner members the squib or detonator is exploded thereby moving the piston within the cylinder.

1,183,375 1,311,781 Straub July 29, 1919 1,648,197 Roodhouse Nov. 8, 1927 2,575,071 Rockwell Nov. 11, 1951 

